Rare Pictures Of First Overall Picks On NBA Draft Day

Draft day can be one of the most life-changing days in an NBA athlete’s career. That feeling of hearing your name called by the commissioner and walking up on stage to shake his hand is a highlight of many NBA player’s lives. That’s especially true for the first name called on draft night, as being the first overall pick in the draft is both an honor and a whole lot of pressure.

Players such as LeBron James, Derrick Rose, and Magic Johnson all lived up to the hype, having very successful careers. On the other end of the spectrum, players such as Greg Oden, Kwame Brown and Anthony Bennett had very disappointing runs in the NBA, yet they can live with the memory of being the first name called up on stage on draft night.

Take a look at our gallery below of some of the more well-known first overall picks in NBA history and their reactions during the draft.

About the author

Brad Stevenson is Fadeaway World's Chief Content Editor. Brad is 19 years old and is currently studying Information Technology at Monash University in Australia. Joining the Fadeaway World team early on in 2016, Brad has covered every NBA topic imaginable in his two years with Fadeaway World. He's also a rabid Laker fan and isn't afraid to share his opinions when it comes to the Purple and Gold. You can follow Brad on Twitter @BradStevensonFW.